Beer and wine are two of the most popular alcoholic beverages in the world. Although they are both made through fermentation, their alcohol concentrations differ. So, if we consider alcohol content, how many beers would be equivalent to a bottle of wine?
Table of Contents
Comparing Beer and Wine: Alcohol Content
Depending on the specific beer and wine being consumed, it generally takes between five and eight beers to match the alcohol content of one bottle of wine.
In this article, we will delve into the details of this comparison. We will compare different types of beer such as lite beer, dark beer, and malt liquor with red wine, white wine, and sparkling wine/champagne.
Disclaimer: Math Ahead!
Before we proceed, let us issue a WARNING: This article involves some math. If math isn’t your cup of tea, don’t worry! We’ll keep it simple and easy to understand. Plus, we’ll use the metric system.
Alcoholic Drink Sizes and Definitions
For the purpose of this article, we will consider the following serving sizes:
- “One beer” refers to a 12 fl oz (354.88 ml) bottle, which is approximately 355 ml (12.00 fl oz). This is the standard beer serving size in the American market.
- “One bottle of wine” refers to a standard 750 ml (25.36 fl oz) bottle.
- “ABV” stands for “alcohol by volume.”
Alcoholic Content of Different Beers and Wines
The selection of alcoholic beverages for this article is based on sales estimates and reviews.
Lite Beer
The term “lite beer” does not primarily refer to the calorie content but indicates a lighter color and a milder flavor. Bud Light, the most consumed light beer in America and worldwide, will serve as our representative for lite beer. Bud Light, produced by the Belgian-owned Anheuser-Busch, has an alcohol volume of 4.2%.
Dark Beer
Contrary to common belief, dark beers do not typically have a higher alcohol content compared to lite beers. The difference lies in their color and flavor. Guinness, produced by the London-based Diageo PLC, will represent dark beer in this article. Guinness has an ABV of 4.3%.
Malt Liquor
Considered a type of beer, malt liquor is a bottom-fermented drink made from malted (germinated) barley, similar to a “lager.” The only significant difference between malt liquor and regular beer is the higher alcohol content, usually ranging from 5% to 9%. Mickey’s Fine Malt Liquor, produced by the Miller Brewing Company, will serve as our representative for malt liquor. Mickey’s has an ABV of 5.6%, which is on the lower end for malt liquors.
White Wine
White wine is produced by fermenting white grapes, using only the flesh of the grapes without the skins and seeds. It generally has a lower alcohol content compared to red or sparkling wine. We have selected Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, one of the best-selling white wines globally, produced in the Marlborough region of New Zealand. Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc has an ABV of 13%, which is considered high for white wines.
Red Wine
Red wine is produced by fermenting whole mashed red grapes, including the skins and seeds. It usually has a fruitier flavor and a higher alcohol content compared to white wines. Cabernet Sauvignons are among the most popular types of red wine worldwide. O’Shaughnessy Cabernet Sauvignon, produced in Napa Valley, California, will represent red wine in this article. O’Shaughnessy Cabernet Sauvignon has an ABV of 14.8%.
Sparkling Wine
Sparkling wines encompass a broad range of carbonated wines, including prosecco, rosé, and champagne. The carbonation can occur naturally during fermentation or be artificially added from a carbon dioxide tank. Sparkling wines typically have an ABV between 9% and 15%. La Marca Prosecco, a renowned sparkling wine from Italy, is the best-selling sparkling wine in the United States. La Marca Prosecco has an ABV of 11%.
Table of Alcohol Content
To provide a clear overview, the table below illustrates the alcohol content of each mentioned alcoholic beverage. The amount of alcohol per bottle was calculated by multiplying the bottle size by the decimal form of the ABV.
| Brand | Bottle Size (ml) | ABV (%) | ABV (decimal) | Alcohol Per Bottle (ml) | BEER | WINE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mickey’s | 354.88 | 5.6 | 0.056 | 19.88 | X | |
| Bud Light | 355 | 4.2 | 0.042 | 14.91 | X | |
| La Marca | 750 | 11 | 0.11 | 82.5 | X | |
| O’Shaughnessy | 750 | 14.8 | 0.148 | 111 | X |
Beer vs. Wine
In our selection, Mickey’s Fine Malt Liquor stands out as the most alcoholic beer, while Bud Light is the least alcoholic. Among the wines, O’Shaughnessy Cabernet Sauvignon tops the list with the highest alcohol content, while La Marca Prosecco has the least.
To illustrate further, a 750 ml (25.36 fl oz) bottle of O’Shaughnessy Cabernet Sauvignon contains 111 ml (3.75 fl oz) of alcohol, while a 355 ml (12.00 fl oz) bottle of Bud Light includes just 14.91 ml (0.50 fl oz) of alcohol.
Dividing 111 by 14.91 yields approximately 7.44. This means that to match the alcohol content of one bottle of O’Shaughnessy Cabernet Sauvignon, you would need to consume around eight bottles of Bud Light.
Moreover, a 750 ml (25.36 fl oz) bottle of La Marca Prosecco contains 82.5 ml (2.78 fl oz) of alcohol, whereas a 355 ml (12.00 fl oz) bottle of Mickey’s Fine Malt Liquor contains 19.88 ml (0.67 fl oz) of alcohol.
By dividing 82.5 by 19.88, we find that it would take approximately 4.15 bottles of Mickey’s Fine Malt Liquor to equal one bottle of La Marca Prosecco.
In other words, assuming you finish each bottle of beer, you would only need to consume five bottles of Mickey’s to match the alcohol content of a single bottle of La Marca Prosecco.
The Average Number of Beers per Bottle of Wine
To provide a clearer example, let’s calculate the average alcohol content of the three beers and the three wines mentioned above.
| Alcoholic Beverage | Average Alcohol Content (ml) |
|---|---|
| Beer | 17.89 |
| Wine | 103.5 |
Based on the table above, on average, you would need approximately 5.81 (12 fluid ounce) beers to match the amount of alcohol in a standard (25.36 fluid ounce) bottle of wine.
In simpler terms, if you were to consume a bottle of wine by yourself, you would be consuming an amount equivalent to almost six standard beers.
Conclusion
Wine generally contains more alcohol than beer. Even the weakest popular wine has more alcohol than four bottles of the most popular lite beer.
